Una aproximació al tractament del pensament històric a l’ensenyament-aprenentatge

Sodergren and Hyland (2000) listed ten themes for positivity as a consequence of illness considering the SLQ-38, which are as follows: improvement in interpersonal relationships, reappraisal of life, positive consequences for others, self-improvement, restructuring of life, spiritual gains, skills and new pursuits, improvement in self-awareness, sensitivity to emotions and confrontation of current concerns. This thesis has presented the themes as reported by n=81 people in the present study for those who scored over one SD on the SLQ mean, that is PPC, to provide some evidence to expand on the knowledge about individuals with RA (see Table 3.7.).

Table 3.7. Positive themes on SLQ-38 in Rheumatoid Arthritis*

Themes Current thesis

Scores over one SD

Improvement in interpersonal relationships 56.0%

Sensitivity to emotions 51.8%

Reappraisal of life 49.37%

Confrontation of current concerns 41.9% Improvement in self- awareness 35.8%

Self-improvement 24.57%

Skills and new pursuits 24.1%

Positive consequences for others 20.22%

Restructuring of life 18.5%

Spiritual gains 11.7%

* Percentage’s average per items calculated to signify themes and listed in order

The findings from the present study provide some evidence to support ten themes of positive consequences from RA, which are included in the SLQ-38 (Sodergren, 2000); these are described below and explained in the discussion section.

3.5.6.1. Improved interpersonal relationships

Considering the SLQ-38 item analysis, an insight was gained in that individuals with RA may go on to discover their illness made them more at ease with others- nearly 17.0%. Some of this study’s participants, 34.6%, confirmed that their illness strengthened their relationships with others. Not everybody, but 45.9%, of the people who showed PPC over one SD on the SLQ mean, mentioned that their RA made them less judgmental of others and, finally, nearly 49.3%, of those who scored over one SD on SLQ agreed that their RA made them less concerned with the approval of others.

3.5.6.2. Positive consequences for others

Some of the SLQ-38 items focus on the positive influence on others because of RA. The findings from this research suggest that some individuals endorsed the experience of positive consequences for others, for example, 8.6%, acknowledged that their RA changed other people for the better; yet, nearly 22.2% of people with RA within this study agreed that other people appreciate them more because of their illness (see Table. 3.3.). However, the current findings give the impression that a frequent number, 72.4%, of people out of the total sample, 210, either ‘disagree’ with or are ‘not sure’ if they have been an inspiration to others because of their RA. Correspondingly, 177 (84.3 %) out of the total number of people who participated in this study, 210, were either not sure or disagreed with the statement, ‘People can be more open with me since my illness’ (See Table 3.3.).

3.5.6.3. Self-improvement

The study findings indicate 25.0%, of those who scored over one SD on SLQ acknowledged that their RA has given them permission to do things for themselves and a large number, 64.2%, of those who scored over one SD on SLQ reported that their RA made them a more determined person (Table 3.3.). On the other hand, 77.6% of the total participants, n= 210, in this study confirmed that they are not sure or disagree about whether their RA has made them more mature (See Table 3.3.). In addition, not everybody agreed that their RA had made them a better person- 86.2%. For instance, nearly 65.2% of this study’s participants confirmed that they are not sure or disagree that their RA makes them a more tolerant person (Table. 3.3.).

3.5.6.4. Reappraisal of life

The present findings show 49.0% of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38 mentioned that their RA made them think about the real purpose of life. However, across this study sample, n= 210, nearly 128 (61%) did not endorse the following item: “My illness made me think about the true purpose of life” (see Table 3.3.). Moreover, a large number of people, 49.4%, of those who scored over one SD on SLQ, confirmed that they found it easier to accept what life has in store (Table, 3.3.).

3.5.6.5. Restructuring of life

According to this study’s results, 8.6%, of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38, agreed that their life is much better than it was. However, 42.0%, of these people stated that their RA has made them live life to its fullest (Table, 3.3.).

3.5.6.6. Spiritual gains

Of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38, 88.3% did not agree that their RA encouraged them to be more open to other religions. Item 8, ‘I am now more open to other religions because of my illness’ gained the lowest positive score for the total sample, n=210 and for those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38 for the present study, as reported in Table 3.3. In addition, 71.0 %, disagreed that their spiritual beliefs developed as a result of their RA (Table 3.3.).

3.5.6.7. Skills and new pursuits

It appears that some of the study participants described a development in skills and new pursuits because of their RA. As an example, approximately 13.6% of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38 reported that they discovered a talent that they were not aware of and 34.6% believed that they can face unknown challenges because of their RA (see Table 3.3.).

3.5.6.8. Improvement in self- awareness

Some of the study participants referred to an understanding of their nature, abilities and motives- an insight into oneself, including any limitations. This includes being more aware of one’s mental representation of themselves. For example, 14.8 % of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38 mentioned that their RA helped them to become more self-confidence. Furthermore, 56.8% of those who scored over one SD on SLQ-38 agreed that their RA made them more aware of their strengths (Table. 3.3.).

3.5.6.9. Sensitivity to emotions

This category refers to whether people with RA agree whether their RA has encouraged them to reflect on how they feel about themselves, for which 51.8% who scored over one SD on SLQ approved this (Table, 3.7.).

3.5.6.10. Confrontation of current concerns

The current study’s results indicate that a frequent number of people who scored over one SD on SLQ (41.9%) confirmed that their RA made them face up to the problem areas in their lives (Table, 3.8.).

Table 3.8. Comparisons of the prevalence of positivity themes on SLQ-38

SLQ-38 Themes Developer* Scores over 1 SD**

Improvement in interpersonal relationships 100% 56.0 %

Reappraisal of life 93% 49.37%

Positive consequences for others 93% 20.22%

Self-improvement 93% 24.57%

Restructuring of life 84% 18.5%

Spiritual gains 69% 11.7%

Skills and new pursuits 49% 24.1%

Improvement in self- awareness 44% 35.8%

Sensitivity to emotions 16% 51.2%

Confrontation of current concerns 4% 41.9%

* Interviewing, n=55, including patients with cancer, musculo-skeletal, chronic fatigue syndrome and heart disease ** Survey, n=81, percentage average per items calculated to signify the themes

3.6. Aim two: Characteristics of those people who have reported Positive